A method and apparatus of the present invention are designed to equalize cell-to-cell imbalances in a multi-cell lithium battery system. A time-to-balance parameter is calculated for each cell at the beginning of charge, and balancing occurs for each cell having a positive time-to-balance at the beginning of charge. Alternatively, the time-to-balance parameter is calculated during operation of the battery system and equalization of the cells occur in-sit based on the time-to-balance values.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A method of operating a battery system having a charging and balancing cycle with a beginning-of-charge (BOC) time, the system having a plurality of cells, said method comprising the steps of: charging the plurality of cells staffing at the beginning-of charge (BOC) time; balancing at least a first one of the plurality of cells during said charging step based on a predicted balancing parameter determined for the at least first cell; determining, for each one of the cells, a respective required charge amount indicative of an amount of charge required to reach an end-of-charge (EOC) state; calculating a maximum required charge from the required charge amounts determined for the cells; determining a difference-in-charge for each cell representative of the difference between the maximum required charge and the respective required charge amount determined for each cell; determining a respective time-to-balance for each cell based on the corresponding difference-in-charge to thereby define the predicted balancing parameter; said balancing step is performed for the determined time-to-balance associated with the at least first one cell; said balancing step is performed for additional cells from the group of cells having a positive time-to-balance, said balancing step enduring for each additional cell for a time corresponding to the respective time-to-balance; and said balancing step starts at the beginning-of-charge (BOC) time for a subset of cells less than all of the cells in the group having a positive time-to-balance.
2. The method of claim 1 further including the step of: selecting cells for inclusion in the subset from the group of all cells having a positive time-to-balance based on the magnitude of the time-to-balance associated with the cell.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein said selecting step is performed further based on predetermined temperature criteria.
4. The method of claim 2 further including the step of: selecting, from the group of all cells having a positive time-to-balance, a predetermined number of cells for inclusion in the subset having a respective time-to-balance that have the highest values.
5. A method of operating a battery system having a plurality of cells, said method comprising the steps of: withdrawing power from the cells of the battery system during an operating cycle thereof; identifying at least a first one of the plurality of cells during the operating cycle that satisfy predetermined criteria indicative of expected excess charge during a subsequent charging and balancing cycle; balancing the identified at least first cell during the operating cycle in advance of the charging and balancing cycle; determining, for each one of the plurality of cells, a respective required charge amount indicative of an amount of charge required to reach an end-of-charge (EOC) state; calculating a maximum required charge from the required charge amounts determined for the cells; determining a difference-in-charge for each cell representative of the difference between the maximum required charge and the respective required charge amount determined for each cell; determining a time-to-balance for each cell based on the respective difference-in-charge; and selecting the at least first cell for balancing from a group cells having a positive time-to-balance; said balancing step starts at the beginning of the operating cycle for all cells of the group having a positive time-to-balance; and said balancing step starts at the beginning of the operating cycle for a subset of cells less than all of the cells in the group having a positive time-to-balance.
6. The method of claim 5 further including the step of: selecting cells for inclusion in the subset from the group of all cells having a positive time-to-balance based on the magnitude of the time-to-balance associated with the cells.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein said selecting step is performed further based on predetermined temperature criteria.
8. The method of claim 5 further including the step of: selecting for inclusion in the subset, from the group of all cells having a positive time-to-balance, a predetermined number of cells having a respective time-to-balance that have the highest values.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
July 28, 2004
October 24, 2006
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